I IOHN PENRY DOO HEARE AS I SHALL ANSWERE BEFORE THE LORD MY GOD IN that great day of Iudgement set downe sumarily the Whole truth and nothing but the truth which I hold and professe at this hower eyther in regard of my faith towards my God and Dread Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth unto whome only of all the potentas In the world I owe all reuerente dutie and submission in the Lord. FIrst because my allegeance vnto her Majesties is cheifly called In question that I am not at this day nor yet euer was in all my life eyther guilty or priuie in any purpose consultation or intent of any sedition against or disturbance of her Majesties Royall state aÌ„d peaceable government And if I were priuie vnto any such godlese wicked and vndutifull actions or purposes as might any ways impayre or disquiet the peaceaeble state of my native prince and countrie I would reveale disclose and withstand the same to the vtmost of my power in all persons both foraigne and domesticall of what prossession or religion soever they be Her supreance authorite within her realmes and dominioÌ„s I acknowledge to be such over all persons in all causes as no person eyther ciuill or ecclesiastical may exempt himselfe or his cause from the power and censure of her lawes and sword I doe also acknowledge that her Majestie hath full authorite from the Lord by hir Royall power to establishe and enact all lawes both ecclesiasticall and ciuill among hir subiectes In the making whereof the Lord requireth that hir eclesiasticall be warented by his writteÌ„ word wich expressely conteyneth whatsoever belongeth to his worship her ciuill to be gronded vpon the rules of common iustice and equitie the wich boundes are so farr from diminishing from the authoritie of kings and princes as they are the onely inexpugnable waies therof This soueraigne prerogatiue authority of her hignes I am most willingly reddy to deffend and maintaine against all the estates persons and creatures vnder heaven to the losse of my life teÌ„ne tousandes tymes if it should be neefull And I take the lorde to record that that day to my knowlege hath not passed over my head I aÌ„ sure since the first that the lord vnder her gratious raigne broght me to the knowledge of the truth wherein I have not or doe not pray for the blessings of my God both outoward inward to be powred with afull horne vpoÌ„ hir right excelleÌ„t Maiesties Throne RegimeÌ„t dominions for ever ever And that he would eyther coÌ„uert or spedily overthrowe In his wrath all his and hir ennaemies with their entreprises whether they be home or foraigne Herof I cal the searcher of hartes as In wittnes of truth against my owne soule if eyther I diâ—sseÌ„ble or forge in the premises Secondly touching my faith I doe beleve with my hart and coÌ„fess with my tongue that ther is no God but the true God only which that written word reacheth to be one in substance and three in person the father the soÌ„ne and the holy gost three distinct persons of one and the selfe same substance This most high God who also is my God in Christ Iesus I veleeve to be the creator preseruer maintainner soueraigne Lord and supreame commander of all creatures In heaveÌ„ and in earth men and Angels both good and bad I doe beleeve that nothing doth or can comme to 〈…〉 but by the fore anointed and determinate wil purpose 〈…〉 onely by grace the sufferings and reghteousnes of Christ Iesus apprehended by true faith Christ Iesus In regard of his natures I beleve to be God man even God alone blessed for ever more And in respect of his offices to be the onely king Priest And Prophet of his Church the which offices he so fully accoÌ„pâ—isshed In the dayes of us flesh by the manifesting of the wholle will of his father thorough his preaching teaching the full redemption of his Chuâ—ch by his death and resurrâ—ction and recâ—aving full absolute power in heaven and in earth from his father in such sorte as he is not to reteine a successor in any of these his offices but is consecrated alone to them all for euer more True faith I beleeve to be the persuasion of the harte where by the soule is truly assured of remission of sinnes and Imputation of righteoâ—snes thorough Christ This true faith beloÌ„geth onely to Gods elect and hath perseuerance vnto the end with this true faith also is vnseparably ioined as the frut thereof a dying vnto sinne and a living vnto righteousnes in such sorte as the meÌ„bers of Christ have a continuall battel in them against sinne the wich by the power of Christs death is so wounded and in some measure decayeth more and more in them vntil at lâ—ngth it shall be vtterly consumed wheÌ„ the bodies and soules be separated and not bâ—fore By the quickninge power of Christ I do beeleeue that his here vpoÌ„ earth are drawne more and more to like his blessed will and to practise the same yea to give their liues rather then to dishonor their God in the will and voluntary deniall of his truth and the breach of his lawes and wil in any point revealed vnto them His revealed will I beleeve to be perfetâ—y conteined in the written word of the ould and newe testament given by the holy ghost for Instruction and coÌ„fort of his pore church as longe as the same is a pilgrime here vpon the earth This Church I beleeve to be a companie of those whom the word calleth saints which do not onely professe in word that they knowe God but also are subiect vnto his lawes and ordinance in deede with this Church I do beleevâ— that the Lord God of is meere fauour hath entred into couenant that he will be their God they shal be his people the seales of this his convenant are only two Baptisme and the Lord supper The Church here vpon earth I do beleeve not to be perfect although in regard of the order wich the Lord hath appointed for the same it be most absolute but to have manie blemishes and waÌ„tes in it yet I assuredly beleeve that all thâ— true meÌ„ders thereof shall at the day of judgement receive their perfect consumation by Iesus Christ and be crowned in him with eternall glory of his meere grace end not for anie merit of theirs Thorough the mercies of my God and therefore I am wilingly content to vndergoe my trouble in this life for his name sake who be glorified of my soule and body and of his saintes for ever more Amen I detest all heresies sectes schimes and errours wether newe or ould by whom soeuer they have beÌ„ inueÌ„ted as puritinisme donatismâ— Anabatisterie Libertinisme Brounisme all the dreames and dotages of the familie of one but especially all popery that most dredfull religion of Antichrist the great ennemie of the Lord Iesus the most pestilent aduersarie of all the thrones of kings and princes
her Maiestie whome the Lord preserve for ever more and of my contrie I have for my warrant not onlie the written word which is sufficient but also in the points of greatest moment the doctrine of the Church of EnglaÌ„d established by her Maiestie and theyr Honors togeather with the writtings testimonies and blood of the famous servants and Martyrs of Christ viz. M. whickleff M. Brute M. Ashly M. Parvy M. Charch and many other holy witnesses of the Lord in former tymes M. Tindall M. Lambert M. Latymer M. Bale the famous servantes of God in this later age togeather with the witnesses of the reformed Churches at this day in the points I say of speciall waight my soule is so evinced by the word of God in all them as I am ready to give my lyfe by the ayde of my God for the truth of this testimony and the testimonies of the fornamed servants of God and holy Churches of Christ yet if any maÌ„ can see by the written word of God that I erre in any thing I will most willingly reforme my iudgement crave pardon ernesthe for any oversight yea and be most willing to suffer due punishement for my temeritie But if on the other side I testify nothing but verity in these points I am vndoubtedlie persuaded of I most humblie crave that the percing edge of that sword may not in heat be turned against me and my brethren which was never professedlie violent against the open and sworne enemies of their native Prince and contrie Death I thanke God I feare not in this cause especiallie for I know that the sting of death is taken away and that they are blessed which die in the Lord for witnessing against the former corruptions Reu. 14.9.13 Life I desyre not if I be guiltie of sedition of defaming and disturbing the quiet state of her Maiestie peceable governement Lastlie I most humblie and earnestlie beseech theyr Honors and worships in whose handes this writting of myne shall come to consider that it is to no purpose that her Maiestyes subjects shovld bestow their tyme in learning in studie and meditation of thâ—â— word in reading the writtings and doings of learned men and of the holy martirs whicâ— have ben in former ages especially the writings published by her Majesties auctoritie they may not without danger proffesse and hold those truths as which they learne out of thâ—â— and that in such sorte as they are able to conuince all the world that will stand against thâ—â— by noe other weapons then by the word of God I beseech them also to consider what a lamentable cause it is that wee may hold fellowship with the Romish Church in the inueÌ„tions thereof without al danger canot without extreme peril be permited in IudgmeÌ„t practise to dissent from the same where it swerueth from the true waye as they find the things to be of especiall moment in religion I beseech them in the bowels of Iesuâ— Christ to be a meanes vnto her Majestie their H. Hs. that my cause may be waighed in even balance imprisonments Indightments arainmeÌ„ts yea death it selfe are no meete weapons to conuince the conscience grounded vpon the word of God accompanyed with so manie wittnesses of his famous seruants Churches The Lord blesse hir right excellent Majestie my most gracious soveraigne blesse their H. Hs this whole land all his saincts even for his great names sake Amen Subscribed with heart hand by me Iohn penry now in straight bonds for the former testimonie of Christs truth TO THE DISTRESSED FAITHFVLL CONGREGATION OF CHRIST IN LONDON AND ALL THE Members thereof wither in bondes or at liberty these be delivered My beloved brethren M. F. Iohnson M. D. M S M. S. M. G. I. M. I M. H. M. B. M. S. R. B. M R. M K N. B. M. B. I. M N P. W. C. P A. my brethren M. I. C. W. B. A. P. M. MM. E C. C D. G. M. A B. With the rest of you both men women as if particularly I named you all which stand members of this poore afflicted congregation whether at libertie or in bondes Iesus Christ that great king Prince of the kings of the earth blesse you comfort you with his invincible spirit that you may be able to beare and over come these great trials which you are yet and I with you if I live to vndergoe for his names sake in this testimonie BELOVED let vs thinke out lot and portioÌ„ more then blessed that novve are vouchsaffed the favor not onelie to know to professe but also to suffer for the sinceritie of the Gospell let vs remember that great is our reward in heaven if wee endure vnto the end I testifie vnto you for mine one part as I shal answere before Iesus Christ his elect Angels that I never saw anie truth more cleare vndoubted then this witnesse wherin wee stand 1 against false offices 2 the callings 3 the workes 4. the maintenance left retayned in this land by and from Poperie 5. against the obedience wich spiritually eyther in soule or in body is yealded the comunion that is had with these inventions of darknes 6 the mingling of all sorts in these assemblies 7. the worship done but scant in one of the three partes of the commission given by our sauiour Scant done I say in one of the three partes of the coÌ„mission by the best teachers of this laÌ„d And I thanke my God I am not only ready to be bound banished but eveÌ„ to die in this cause by his streÌ„gth yea my brethreÌ„ I greatly loÌ„g in regard of my self to be disolued and to liue in the blessed kingdome of heaven with Iesus 〈…〉 Christ and his Angels with Adam Henoch Noah Abraham Moses Iobe Dauid Ieremie Daniel Paule the great Apostle of the Gentiles and with the rest of the holy saints both men and women with the glorious kinges Prophets and martyrs and wittnesses of Iesus Christ that have bine from the begining of the world particulerly with my twoe deare brethren master Henry Barrowe master Iohn Greenwoode which have last of all yealded their bloud for this precious testimonie CoÌ„fessing vnto you my btethren and sisters that if I might liue vppon this earth the days of Methushelach twyse tould and that in noe lesse comforte then Peter Iames and Iohn were in the mount and after this life might be sure of the knigdoÌ„e of heaveÌ„ that yet to gayne al this I durst not goe froÌ„ the former testimony Wher fore my brethren I beseech you be of like minde herein with me I doubt not but you have the same precious faith with me are pertakers also of farte more glorious comfort then my barren and sinfull soule cane be striue for me with me that the Lord our God may make me and vs all able to ende our course with ioy and patience Striue also that he may staye his blessed hand if it
So that I abhorre froÌ„ my soule that whole body aÌ„d euery part of that Romish religion called the sonne of perdition by the Spirit of God because the Lord hath determined vterly to coÌ„sume it by his appearinge in the brightnes of his gospell before his second cominge I detest that proud superiority of this maÌ„ of sinne whereby as the Apostle spake he hath exalted him selfe in his members and power to beare rule over the truth and meÌ„bers of ChristeveÌ„ over all that is caled holy wholy opposeth himselfe as most blodie aduersary a gainst all truths and seruants of the Lord which wil not suffer him with his sard infernall power toreigne over them instead of Christ in his blessed ordinances I detest in regard of theyr offices I speake not of the meanes persones touching the Lords election the head of that body the Pope his cursed triple crowne his vsurped Iuridiction of eyther of both swords I detâ—st the limbes of that body their spirituall powre as Cardinals Archbishop a Lord bishops Sufraganes Abbots Fryors Deanes Archdeacons Commissaries Chancelers Officials Munkfryers Cannons prebend Priests I detest theyr invented maners of calling wherby they are placed in their cursed offices theyr devised workes wherin they are jmployed by reason of theyr offices as the false doctrines and false worship of that kingdome with the livings and maintenances wherby they are maintayned in their offices And forasmuch as the members of Christ cannot have anie communion or fellowshipe with anie of those cursed jnuentions in so much as they can have no lawfull vse or spirituall communion of or with anie of these offices callings workes and maintenances in so much as they cannot lawfullie be subiect vnto anie parte of the ecclesiasticall power of these offices Therfore it is that I dare not participatâ— in these assemblies over which anie of these officers bâ—are rule or ecclesiasticallie jntermedle with the holy things of God and where anie of these devised callings and non els workes and maintenances are to be found for I am forbidden to have anie communion with these vnfructfull workes of darknes though it be vpon prâ—teÌ„ce of mining the truth and sacraments of Christ vpon payne of everlasting formente day and night for evermore Ad if I may not be subiect to the ceremonies of Moses as Circoncision wich were sometymes the Lords owne sacred ordinances how dare I or any other creature be in bondage vnto those inueÌ„tions of Antichrist the greate enemy of the Lord Iesus whereof neyther the saincts of God can neyther yet could have any sanctified vse The truth of doctrine touching the trinitie and touching the natures and offices of Christ Iustifying faith Sacraments externaly established by her Maiestie professed by her selfe there H. H. such as have knowledge in the asseÌ„blies of this laÌ„d I acknowledge froÌ„ my hart to be such as if I mainteined not the vnitie held not the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the same doctrine with theÌ„ in those points I could not possibly be saved for out of that communioÌ„ of the true profession which her Miestye hath established in these and the like rules there is no hop of saluation but to joine not with standing with the publicke worship of these assemblies of the land I dare not for the same reasons I more over willingly confesse that both of the teachers also of the professors within these assemblyes of the land have so imbraced this truth doctrine established and professed in this land that the Lord in his infinite goodnes hath graunted theÌ„ the fauor to shew out wherein regard of Gods election I protest before men and Angels that I iudge theÌ„ members of the body whereof the sonne of God Iesus Christ is the head onely herein the Lord be merciful vnto theÌ„ as vnto my selfe in regard of my sinnes that they are not ordered in that outward order which Christ Iesus left in his Church but instead thereof are first subiect vnto those forenamed offices secoÌ„dly have coÌ„munioÌ„ with ther false maner of callings vnto their offices Thirdlie participate with a great parte of theyr devised workes wherin these officers are imployed fourthlie with the false maintenance and livings fiftlie are mingled with the knowne profane ignorant and disordered persons which are joint members with them in their assemblies This is the somme of my faith and allegeance to my God and my Prince here is the soÌ„me of the wholle difference which is betweene me and the clergy of this land and the somme of the whole cause for the which I and divers other of my poore brethren are judged to be schismatikes felons heretikes If this may come to the Royall hands of my souueraygne and to the veiwe of theyr H. H. they will be soone induced that neyther I nor any other that hold the same with me deserve the shortning of our dayes by her Maiesties sword for these things And here is all that euer wee hold As towching that error concerning the repeating of the Lords prayeÌ„r wherewith wee are charged far be it even far be it that wee should deny the same or anie the like scripture to be an holy forine of prayer which conteyneth not only an eâ—quisite paterne of doctrine which a Christian soule may not onlie lawfully say but also with great comfort have the vse of the same In deed wee rather hold it for a doctrine then prayer the abuse in the often repeating of it wee condemne and this I am sure was the judgement in this point of those holy servants of God who nowe rest from their labors The good which this land getreth outwardite by these false offices afornamed and the livings belonging vnto them is the traytors as Iesuistes and Seminary Priests are drawen by that hope they have of possessing this Babilonish gould to become the vnnaturall betrayers of theyr naturall Prince and Contrye into the hands of strangers wheras if these offices and livings were by publique authority once removed and converted to her Maiestyes vse the Pope would have no occasion to send over these locastes they would be no baytes to alluer them hether and the home Papistes would be vtterly voyde of hope to see their expected day so that the maintayning of these offices and livings theyr devised workes and callings would fall with them is ioyned that there is no small danger of her Maiesticall persoÌ„ and the whole state of this land I doe point but at the inconueniences which in conscience towards her Maiestye and my contrie I am bond to shew they that are wiser will thinke of the cause with seriousnes and would not I hope thinke me worthie to be smitten for this shewing the danger Whatsoeuer I hold in these points controverted I hold the same of meere conscience towards God of that meere destetation which in conscience I am boud to have of all the inveÌ„tions of men or Angels in religioÌ„ and of that care which I ought to have of the salvation and safegarde of